Great point... When Tim Stowers got the job at Ga Southern, Erk Russell helped him out with intangible things... How do I know this? Because Russell sat in my family’s living room with Stowers when they were recruiting my brother.

So how many open positions are there now ? Rumors are that Riase is gone but he is still on the roster as DL coach. We need a DC it seems. Maybe Riase will accept it and stay. We now have a new OL coach and an new ILB coach so do we need just one more ? Or two if Riase really is gone ? It appears that the roster has not been updated because Nash is still shown as OL coach. So Riase could actually be gone and the roster not been updated yet. Oh well just have to be patient. Although Gasparato and Wood are not on it. I like the sound of Trey Johnson as OL coach but like ld said what is his coaching background ? I hope it is announced on the website along with the new ILB coach.

Allen SmithPosition: Defensive Line CoachAlma Mater: WoffordGraduating Year: 2012Phone: 540-464-7850Email: smithag@vmi.eduBegins his first year on Post...comes to VMI from Duke University where he spent the 2016 season serving as a Football Operations Assistant working primarily with the Blue Devil defense...spent the 2015 season as a graduate assistant coach at Appalachian State, helping the Mountaineers to an 11-2 record and Raycom Media Camellia Bowl championship with a 31-28 victory over Ohio...Appalachian State became the first team to win a bowl game in its first season as a full-fledged member of Division I-A/FBS. ..Smith arrived at Appalachian State after serving the 2014 season as an assistant coach at Calhoun County High School in St. Matthews, S.C...in his lone campaign at Calhoun County, he served as special teams coordinator and coached the Saints’ outside linebackers, halfbacks and tight ends and helped lead the squad to a 7-3 record...before joining the coaching ranks, Smith served as a counselor and site coordinator for A&A Youth Community Learning Center in Columbia, S.C., and completed an internship with the Carolina Panthers, focusing on sponsor sales and services, community relations and ticket sales...Smith was a four-year letterwinner as a defensive end at Wofford from 2009-12, playing for current Appalachian State defensive coordinator Nate Woody...he helped the Terriers to a share of two Southern Conference championships and three NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearances...he served as a team captain as a senior in 2012...Smith, a Columbia, S.C., native, graduated from Wofford in 2012 with a degree in business economics.

Both Trey and Allen are SHD's with years in the trenches as players for us and coaching experience elsewhere. Appears that Trey's coaching experience is less extensive, but we should have high expectations for both. Both are young and likely very energetic.

Bringing Smith and Johnson back home echos Conklin’s effort to retain some of “Wofford’s Way.” I love the additions as both have experienced great success at Wofford in their playing days and know the expectation moving forward. This will lend itself even greater when it comes to recruiting as well as they aren’t far removed from playing so they will be able to relate with current and future SHD’s.